Black Women Blogs

TalulaZoeApple

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August 2013

August 27, 2013

I am one week into the Abs Challenge. I feel (and look) so much better I want to keep restarting it. My friend has joined me and her friends have joined her and this thing is taking off.

Back in the day, I would always wear dresses. I felt they complimented my figure. I also felt like wearing dresses was chic and lady-like. (I still do.) Dresses always made me feel beautiful. As my dress size grew, I looked less like an hour-glass and more like a tent. I started to feel less and less beautiful. Then the less beautiful I felt, the less beautiful I dressed. *insert sad face*

I am just keeping it real.

I saw this Oprah episode where this woman was facing a lot of health issues and had gained a lot of weight. She had legitimate reasons as to why her weight was difficult to manage but Oprah did not give her a pass. She looked her square in the eye and said YOU have to take control of your health. She said the words to the guest but they rang in my ears.

I had to take CONTROL. *Cue Janet Jackson*

I am wearing a cute baby doll dress today. Someone says, "Oh don't you look precious.' Not exactly what I was going for but hey, I will take that as a compliment.Someone else saw a photo of me and said that I reminded them of Vivica Fox. I have never been told that before but I will take that, too.

This Abs Challenge is really making a difference. It is helping get back to me - the fine, confident me. My core feels stronger. I feel stronger. My legs look more defined. I am glad have friends on the journey, too. Nothing like support to give you that extra bit of motivation.

I walked past the full-length bathroom mirror and did a double-take. I am not where I want to be . . .yet but I am making progress. I looked at myself and transition and thought, I just have to accept the fact that I am cute. There I said it! *insert smiley face*

August 21, 2013

Woo chile! What a week! I have been working some mandatory overtime and getting up early to do it. It is taking some getting used to. I thought - erroneously - that I would just sleep a little longer, you know, nap a little more. I skipped a workout here . . .there. The result, I was tired all of the time.

What the what?

As I lsat on the couch seriously pondering where my get-up-and-go went, I remembered by high school science class. Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motions states that an object either is at rest or moves at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a force. {Source}

Or in laymen term, a body in motion stays in motion. A body in rest stays at? You guessed it - REST! The more I slept in and did not work out, the more I just wanted to layabout. I finally just bit the bullet and started back in motion. This body started moving and just kept moving.

August 13, 2013

I have been experiencing some major fatigue lately. Not quite sure what it is but between early starts and late finishes at work and working out a sister has been 'bout ready to fall out. As a result, my blogging has fallen by the wayside. Forgive me. OAN: I have discovered how blissful lunchtime naps in my car can be.

My exercise has lapsed a bit. Although I have successfully completed the Abs Challenge, I have also skipped a few trail walks. I am learning that when my I skip exercise, I feel crappy. The more I feel crappy the less I want to exercise. Insert enigma into conundrum.

I called a good friend to check on her and she ended up encouraging me. By the end of the conversation, I was arriving at the park to begin my 3 mile trek. I felt so energized and rejuvenated. Consistency is key. It is so good to have a support network who can help you on those lazy days. Plus, I do not want to be the fat friend anymore lol. If everyone is working out except me then hello rolly polly.

I almost hit a dude walking across the expressway. I guess people do this. This is the second time this has happened over my driving career. Good thing God is always looking out for me, keeping me from dangers seen and unseen.

I am trying to go gluten-free. I say trying because it seems that everything has gluten in it. I will say that my stomach feels better - no pain and no bloating. Sounds like a win to me.My next purchase is to be a Magic Bullet Blender. I am trying to catch it on sale. I would search Craigslist but I am wary about buying blenders from strangers. What if they have been blending kittens or something? lol. I know that is extreme and gross but it gets the point across.

Debating on if I should take a guitar class. I wanted to take piano but the classes at the community college is full. Guitar class was open. I could totally see it. Sitting on stage wit my afro strumming a guitar. I guess I would need to but a guitar. I wonder how many calories could I burn playing the guitar for an hour? I guess I should go buy a hat, too. How else can I collect my change?

August 07, 2013

Every few months, I speak with a health coach. It is a thirty minute session sponsored by my insurance. I take full advantage of it. I had been in a blue funk lately, possibly some delayed reaction to my niece and nephew leaving and my big disappointment. When I get in these moods, I feel like I have no energy. The other day, when I normally would have been on my trail I was in bed sleep!

So, I get this call and a very energetic woman starts asking me about my progress. I am itemizing the changes I have made and my results. In the midst of her, 'Great' and 'You are doing such a good job' responses, something funny happened - I started to feel better. Blue funk and all, I have managed to stick with consistent workouts longer than I ever have in life.

My coach also logs my weight and other health info. When she states how much weight I have lost in a few months, I am like, wow, I am progressing.

My coach asks me how I think my diet and workouts are going. She suggests apps and websites to assist me. She even asks how am I planning to stay on track - down to suggesting I cook twice a week to help with my meal planning.

One conversation and I feel I am back on track. Last night I did my Abs Challenge workout. I woke up this morning had prayer and then started my leg raises lol. Talk about commitment. This healthy lifestyle is a journey. I was letting outside forces affect my mood which in turn affected my behavior. The cheering on of someone with no other interest in me except my progress was all I needed to get back on track.

August 02, 2013

Confession: I am going to need to extend my abs challenge an additional week. I did not do a single leg raise. There is really no excuse. I mean, there are excuses just not good ones. I have come to far to chunk the deuces to the whole challenge. Slightly disappointed in myself but I will just go another week.

Speaking of disappointments, I received one this week. It is difficult when someone you believed in turns out to not be that believable. Not that any human being is perfect but honesty goes a long way with me. I was a little down and was going to skip my workout when my nephew suggested we go to the trail. I am thankful for his motivation.

It is just so easy to get off track - a glitch in a schedule, a missed workout, fatigue or a disappointment. The key is to be consistent - to stay on track. I heard a sermon once - success comes from doing what you know is right regardless of how you feel. I felt like climbing in bed and pulling the covers over my head. Instead I got up and did my 3 miles.

My niece and nephew are going back home tomorrow *insert sad face*. I am going to have to find some internal motivation for those down days. Maybe I should buy a new dress. There is no therapy like retail therapy. lol